billp@ISM780.UUCP (07/17/85)
<< Serve this line with your favorite Troll Helper >>
Ok, folks. I guess by now I've gotten a reputation for being an
anti-D&D so-and-so with nothing reasonable to contribute, but I'd
like none-the-less to redeem myself with those who are truly
interested in good fantasy role-playing fun.
Reiher's comments in net.movies did not dissuade me from seeing MAX
MAD III the other night in Westwood and the movie made me wonder
about the stories that could be roly-played in similar "universes".
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the MAD MAX serials, the
stories take place in a post-nuclear-holocost Australia where people
and civilization have been somewhat reduced by the lingering effects
of fall-out and the scarcity of "modern" resources such as fuel for
your dune buggy (if your fortunate enough to have one) or ammo for
your pistol. As a result, the living conditions can often make the
Middle Ages look pleasant.
To me, it looks like the perfect setting for some rip-roaring
FRPing. Now for the questions:
a) Considering that such a game would be played with a
hodgepodge of technology, what combat rules would you use?
b) I always use C&S as my first cut for defining my fantasy
worlds, but here it hardly seems appropriate except for the
parts that slide back to feudalism. What sources do you folks
recommend?
c) How many of you think you would find such a setting
challenging enough to be played without magic? If not, please
consider why and tell us.
d) Finally, since there's been a lot of speculative
fantasy/science fiction written about this sort of universe and
the problems inherent therein, what other literary sources might
be considered for defining the basic MO of this world?
I know that many of you are sufficiently well read and experienced
FRPers that you're ideas will benefit the frp genre if posted here,
but for those who just wish to give basic answers (i.e., a=RQ,
b=traveller,c=yes,d=_Frostword and Dreamfire_ by Morresy(?)) please
send them to me and I shall summarize the answers to the net.
G'day,
Bill Putnam UUCP: ucbvax!ucla-cs!ism780!billp
USPS: INTERACTIVE Systems Corp.
2401 Colorado Ave, 3rd floor
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(`: If I wanted you opinion I'd have beat it out of you! :')sas@leadsv.UUCP (Scott Stewart) (07/19/85)
In article <28700008@ISM780.UUCP>, billp@ISM780.UUCP writes: > Reiher's comments in net.movies did not dissuade me from seeing MAX > MAD III the other night in Westwood and the movie made me wonder > about the stories that could be roly-played in similar "universes". > For those of you who are unfamiliar with the MAD MAX serials, the > stories take place in a post-nuclear-holocost Australia where people > and civilization have been somewhat reduced by the lingering effects > of fall-out and the scarcity of "modern" resources such as fuel for > your dune buggy (if your fortunate enough to have one) or ammo for > your pistol. As a result, the living conditions can often make the > Middle Ages look pleasant. > > To me, it looks like the perfect setting for some rip-roaring > FRPing. Now for the questions: > I seem to screw up using mail so I'll respond here. For some post-halocaust role playing try the following games. (The first game I own, the other three I've seen at stores and looked at their descriptions. 1) Gamma World - produced by TSR. This game takes place sometime after the 25th century. The world was devasted by nucleur and chemical war brought on by Terrorism and Social Upheaval. Most communities are primitive and know nothing of how to use the technology of their ancestors, what little still works. Powerful mutants run rampant. The game is basically fantasy sf. There are major advances in robots, computers, transportation, and weoponery from today, which your characters must contend with and figure out. Mutations, both physical and mental, range from defensive to highly aggressive. (I've heard TSR has discontinued this product, but Gary Gygax was going to take it over on his own.) 2) Aftermath - produce by Fantasy Games (I believe). This game takes place after a nucleur war in the not to distant future. This game is supposed to be more hard-core sf. Some mutants run around, but they are based more on the possible effects of radiation. (This is by the same people who brought us Space Opera, a game of far to complexity to play for my taste)> 3) The Morrow Project - A Dr. Morrow knew of the upcoming nucleur war. He gather together groups of specialist and put them into cryogenic sleep, to be awakened the bombs dropped. Their job, restore society. Another hard-core sf game that takes place about the turn of the century. 4) Twilight 2000 - produced by Games Designers Workshop. Society has collapsed from a long war. Players are members of a army unit which fought in the war in Europe. Fuel is practically non-existant and the world governments have no power. Intel- ligence agencies are still working, such as the CIA and KGB, but are independant. This game doesn't seem to have any real sf in it, but is more of speculative future. (From the people who bought you Traveller.) Hope these give you some ideas. Scott A. Stewart LMSC
jeffh@brl-tgr.ARPA (the Shadow) (07/26/85)
> For those of you who are unfamiliar with the MAD MAX serials, the > stories take place in a post-nuclear-holocost Australia where people > and civilization have been somewhat reduced by the lingering effects > of fall-out and the scarcity of "modern" resources such as fuel for > your dune buggy (if your fortunate enough to have one) or ammo for > your pistol. As a result, the living conditions can often make the > Middle Ages look pleasant. > > To me, it looks like the perfect setting for some rip-roaring > FRPing. Me too. > a) Considering that such a game would be played with a > hodgepodge of technology, what combat rules would you use? > b) What [gaming/background] sources do you folks recommend? I'll answer these two together: Aftermath (FGU): This is one of the few attempts at making a good post-holocaust RP. It suffers from the same problem as most of FGU's other stuff -- rules overload. However, the game does provide the flexibility and wide technological range needed for such a campaign. It also has two modules available for (you guessed it) Australia. The first of these is quite interesting with a wealth of detail, some interesting people, but not a lot of plot (i.e. things to do). I would only try this game with an experienced gaming group, but we could have a lot of fun with it. HERO system: "What?" you ask, "isn't that Champions?" Well, yes it is, but if you use weapons and skills from Justice, Inc. and medieval weapons from their new fantasy game (don't own it yet -- my game store doesn't have it), you could put together most everything you needed for this campaign. This would be my first choice for most gaming situations. The most diffcult thing would be to create the world, but with all you experienced gamers out there, that isn't a problem, right? ICE system: One could also piece together a good world using Rolemaster and Space Master, although that might be a little harder, since those games have little emphasis on modern-day equipment (e.g. dune buggies). GAMMA WORLD: I only play this when I don't want a serious cam- paign, but it can be fun for comic relief. > c) How many of you think you would find such a setting > challenging enough to be played without magic? I find that gaming *without* magic is usually more challenging. After all, when you're dead, that's it. No Clerics to resurrect you or gods to reincarnate you. Magic in the hands of a novice is probably the fastest way way ever invented to unbalance a game. > d) ... what other literary sources might > be considered for defining the basic MO of this world? Well, only two of these follow *nuclear* devastation, but they are all end-of-civilization-as-we-know-it stories. ALAS, BABYLON by Pat Frank BANDER SNATCH by Kevin O'Donnell Jr LUCIFER'S HAMMER by Niven & Pournelle Operation: ARES by Gene Wolfe PRELUDE TO CHAOS by Edward Llewellyn the SURVIVALIST series by Jerry Ahearn (who? me? read serial garbage? Nooooo, Never!!) WORLDS APART by Joe Haldeman > (`: If I wanted you opinion I'd have beat it out of you! :') ooh, ow, argh! [smack, bang, thump] <-- simulated background noises "They were killing you ... with SHOES!?!" "Have *you* ever been hit by a flying Saddle Oxford?" the Shadow ARPA: <jeffh@brl> UUCP: {seismo,decvax}!brl!jeffh
alex@warwick.UUCP (Frank N Furter) (08/04/85)
One of the most enjoyable rolegaming campaigns I have played in,
was a post-holocaust setting. Though the campaign has now sadly
deceased, some of its features might be of interest.
The basic setting was drawn from post-holocaust Moorcock (Ice
Schooner et al), with a basically Renaissance level of technology.
Quite naturally, there were quite a number of hangovers from
the 'previous age' - flame throwers, balloons etc.
Magic was present; it being what replaced technology after the
bang. Society was basically Renaissance Europe in structure
(so was the geography!).
The point about such a set-up was that weather, social organisation
and so forth are easily related to by the players. A game set in a non
European climate - equitorial say - is very difficult for European (or
American) players to understand.
The 'system' was very much freeform, but did require a large amount
of GM panache to make it work. Very Moorcock and Peake in feel. The
game was more 'fun' than 'serious' - though no worse or better for that.
All the other responses to Bil Putnam's original posting were on
the line of "these systems and backgrounds exist". What this was, was
"I ((the GM, not myself)) have got the imagination to make my own
background and system, so let's do it !"
Hope this has been of (at least some) interest.
--Alex
P.S. Can I heartily recommend balloons to add spice to your campaign.
They can really be an incerdibly fun thing, even if you do have
to pre-empt the date of their invention a bit.
--
Life is an illusion, being awake doubly so.
... mcvax!ukc!warwick!asz